For most of the 90's,
the band Fake I.D. could be found farting around at various small clubs in New Jersey. Playing an
enthusiastic blend of pop & hard rock originals, the band was characterized by the many assets of hard-driving
lead singer Suzé DiPietro and the butt-rocking riffs of guitar virtuoso Marisa Salazar.
The
rest of the band was somewhat more arbitrary, having gone through several bass players and drummers. In
1992, they signed John Hagan (of The Electric Fish) to be their
long-term drummer, a job he retains to this day. The bass player situation was never really nailed
down.
At the time
of these photos (1993), the bass player was Clinton Forsythe, a devotee of the Robert Fripp school of bass
playing.
In 1995, John Bradley (also of The Electric Fish) was brought on board to play rhythm guitar and keyboards, as well as to provide a general air of irritability to the band.
In
the fall of 1996, the band retired to Big Zone Studios in Conshohocken, PA, to record several demo tracks in an
attempt to "make it, or stop dicking around". As a first step towards their new studio-based
focus, the band fired their bass player du-jour, and had JB play bass as well. These tracks, along with several older recordings of
the band, later formed the basis of the Project Suzé-ko album. To avoid confusion, and further mark the
beginning of this new direction, the band changed their name to Project Suzé-ko as well.
You
can purchase this album, if you're so inclined, here.
Or, perhaps more conveniently, you can just listen to the best tracks right here!
Since this album has been recorded, it has been heard by Nile Rogers' secretary, Eddie Van Halen's gardener, David Bowie's chauffeur, and all manner of music-industry hangers-on. The band remains on hiatus, waiting for the inevitable phone call...
Don't Bother
DiPietro/Salazar
© 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Used by permission
The hard-rocking, grab-you-by-the-'nads (ow!) intro song from the Project Suze-ko album.
Least Likely To Succeed
DiPietro/Salazar
© 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Used by permission
The laid-back, jangly 'alternative' track. Dig the leslie'd guitar solo!
Where Does Love Go?
DiPietro/Salazar
© 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Used by permission
A peppy, upbeat pop song. Warning: this song contains a dangerously-catchy chorus hook - proceed at your own risk!
Liar (unplugged)
DiPietro/Salazar
© 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Used by permission
A slow acoustic track - vocals, two acoustic guitars, and a whole lot of 'space', used to achingly-beautiful effect. At least, in theory.